OTTAWA - Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk and general manager Bryan Murray announced today that team captain Daniel Alfredsson has announced his intentions to return for his 17th National Hockey League season in 2012-13.

“Daniel is an exceptional captain whose commitment to his teammates and to the great City of Ottawa is second to none,” said Melnyk. “Daniel expects a lot out of himself both on and off the ice so I fully understand how important a decision this was for him and his family. I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome and look forward to Daniel having a great year and adding to his long list of extraordinary achievements with our hockey club.”

"Daniel’s contributions to this hockey team cannot be understated. He is a leader and a mentor to many of our young players,” said Murray. “Daniel is also a great hockey player and we expect him to return and continue to be one of our best players as we look to improve on last year’s accomplishments.”

In his 16th year in the NHL and with the Senators in 2011-12, Alfredsson scored 27 goals and added 32 assists for 59 points in 75 games, while recording 18 penalty minutes and a plus-16 rating. He scored two goals in four games during the Eastern Conference quarter-final series against the New York Rangers.

Following the season, Alfredsson was named the 2012 winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, the annual NHL award presented to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.

A six-time NHL all-star, Alfredsson won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 1996 and was nominated for the 2004 Lady Byng Trophy as the player demonstrating the most sportsmanship and playing ability.

“I’m excited to get ready for another season,” said Alfredsson. “I’ve been training for about a month and a half and my body feels a lot further ahead of where it was last year at this point. I expect to come into camp stronger and fitter than I did last year.”

“I spoke to my family (about the decision to return) and we are all on the same page – if I am motivated to continue to play, then they will be supportive of me playing. It really came down to asking if I had the motivation to come back and be happy about the decision to return. I definitely feel that way and know that I am ready and have more in the tank to give.”

Alfredsson, the team's captain since Oct. 2, 1999 and the NHL’s longest serving active captain, is Ottawa’s franchise leader in numerous categories, including games played (1,131), goals (416), assists (666) and points (1,082). He also leads the Senators in most playoff categories, including games played (111), goals (47), assists (43) and points (90).